Chapter 208
He pretended to be completely unaware and granted the 20 minutes secretly suggested by several captains, including Kirio Hikifune, just to do everything in his power to prevent this from happening.
As for why the Second Division World of the Living Kisuke Urahara instead of Marechiyo Ōmaeda, the unspoken understanding behind it is probably self-evident.
"Urahara."
Haruto finally dropped the formality of addressing the Fourth Seat.
"You have a way to open a passage from the World of the Living to the Valley of Screams, don't you?"
"... have."
"!?"
Everyone except Haruto was shocked by Kisuke Urahara's decisiveness.
Is there any problem?
Kisuke Urahara to act immediately suggests that he still harbored some reservations.
We're a bit short-handed here.
How so?
"I originally thought that one or two captains would successfully arrive in the World of the Living, but I didn't expect the timing to be so precise. By the time I set off, it was already too late."
A hint of frustration escaped Kisuke Urahara's lips—at this point, he didn't yet possess the flawless strategy he would later develop.
"Opening the door is simple."
Kisuke Urahara's initial dilemma wasn't about how to get in.
"However, in order to keep the gate open, I cannot accompany the team to Valley of Screams... unless you are prepared to be self-sacrificing heroes."
"And in the Valley of Screams..."
Kisuke Urahara's voice became a bit serious.
"While the Reiatsu of the Ryudoji Clan remains constant, their ability to manipulate Blanks grants them unparalleled advantages in replenishment and healing; coupled with the Heavenly Bestowed Armaments I know a little about, doubling their combat power is the bare minimum."
"What you are about to face..."
"No problem."
Haruto interrupted Kisuke Urahara's predicament.
"I'll handle Ganryū Ryūdōji."
Advantage of location?
For Haruto, the Valley of Screams actually has an advantage, making it much easier than fighting in the World of the Living.
"Since it's you from the Second Division... you must have brought quite a few good things with you, right?"
Haruto followed up with a question.
"Oh dear~"
Kisuke Urahara lowered his gaze even further.
"You think this can scare you?"
You and all of you.
--Kisuke Urahara subtly obfuscated the issue in his wording.
Since things have already come to this point...
"Zheng."
Kisuke Urahara drew his Zanpakuto from his waist.
"Awaken, Benihime!"
That was a Zanpakuto with a very special tsuba (handguard), shaped like a musket, and with its Zanpakuto broken off.
"Captain Shihoin did prepare some things for this operation."
In public, Kisuke Urahara addressed Yoruichi in a rather formal manner.
"It might not be very useful."
Kisuke Urahara tossed a large black balloon out of his pocket, from which all sorts of strange gadgets were neatly arranged.
"But..."
"It's still manageable to help everyone recover some Reiatsu or injuries, or quickly adapt to the Valley of Screams environment, without the support of the Fourth Division."
After Kisuke Urahara finished speaking, he raised Benihime towards the void.
"Take advantage of this time."
"Click."
At the slanted tip of the knife, space gradually began to crack.
Let me open the door for everyone first.
"Snap!"
"..."
Haruto casually picked up a Heavenly Bestowed Armaments from the ground.
This should be a mass-produced product of some large weapon. The pill-shaped object, about the size of a finger joint, is filled with Reiatsu similar to that of the dishes made by Kirio Hikifune.
In a different setting, it's called "Soldier's Rations" —Kisuke Urahara brought quite a lot of these, which seemed to be intended for Captain-level Soul Reaper.
At the same time.
The space in front of Kisuke Urahara slowly opened like an eye.
"This isn't Benihime's ability, is it?"
Haruto popped a handful of pills into his mouth, then took out a small, hourglass-like object, no bigger than a thumb, and hung it on his waist. The flow of time within the Valley of Screams, though not as slow as in the Dangai, was still different from the World of the Living or Soul Society. This little gadget could help Haruto correctly identify the time in the outside world.
Besides.
There are also several Arabic-style veiled hats that can be used to temporarily resist the discomfort caused by rapid space travel: the Senkaimon is a very safe way to cross boundaries, while the Garganta requires you to create your own Reishi to pave the way.
If it were a more unstable Valley of Screams, then even more special methods would be needed to enter safely.
"Um..."
Kisuke Urahara thought for a moment and then answered.
"This is a 'World-Piercing Instrument,' used to temporarily open and stabilize spatial passages."
"Can't we connect directly to Soul Society?"
If they could get the captains from Soul Society to come, they wouldn't have to worry about combat strength; if possible, they could even have the Captain-Commander just stand at the entrance of the Valley of Screams, saving them the trouble of Kidō Cannons.
"No."
Kisuke Urahara shook his head.
"This device is not very stable yet."
"If the Ryudoji Clan hadn't left traces during their retreat, we might not have been able to open the road to the Valley of Valley of Screams so easily..."
"Alright."
Despite saying it was unstable, Kisuke Urahara could already glimpse Valley of Screams's general appearance through the gap in the space in front of him.
"..."
Haruto glanced at his equipment, and after confirming that everything was alright—
"I'll go say hello to Ganryū Ryūdōji."
"If it's just at the Vice-Captain-level, I can take charge of two."
Lisa Yadōmaru seems to be ready as well.
"Eh~ How cunning."
Mashiro Kuna's attire was rather disheveled... If Ayaka hadn't been there to help her, she probably wouldn't have been properly dressed by now.
"I can have two!"
"... Please be sure to give me one."
Soi Fon's voice also came from the shadows.
"As for Soi Fon, it would be best to ask the two ladies of the Eighth Division for assistance, wouldn't it?"
"Hi hi!"
The two young ladies naturally refer to Ayaka and Yayahara Yuyu.
"Then... what about me?"
Tatsufusa Enjōji, who wasn't particularly noticeable, took the initiative to ask.
"The grunts can be left to the Stealth Force team. Enjōji, the Third Seat, please assist me in the World of the Living."
Kisuke Urahara is the highest- Seated Officer of the Second Division in the World of the Living. Soi Fon and other Seated Officers of the Stealth Force must obey his orders unconditionally—even Soi Fon, who holds a relatively special position, will not contradict Urahara to his face.
Haruto originally wanted Ayaka to remain in the World of the Living.
But after exchanging a glance with Kisuke Urahara...
"Good."
That's all.
The Valley of Screams Special Team, officially began its operation.
Volume 1: 126, Mutual Beliefs
At the same time.
At the top of the red steel bridge arch, the same design as the one in Fate, in the middle of the embankment separating Naruki City and Karakura Town across the river.
"Oh?"
The man with his slicked-back hair styled meticulously with hair gel, wearing a jacket with a tiger print, looked up at the sky.
"Very perceptive."
That was the direction in which Kisuke Urahara and Haruto secretly glanced after making eye contact.
"..."
"Brother Ginjo!"
Beside him stood a silent, expressionless boy, his white shirt and overalls exuding a two-and-a-half-year-old Kun vibe; and not far behind, three men and two women were standing or sitting in various JO poses on the rusty metal, enjoying the autumn night breeze.
"Um?"
Kūgo Ginjō glanced behind him.
His overly robust and tall figure brought not only a sense of security to this group of people, but also an even more terrifying sense of oppression.
"Why don't we take advantage of this now...?"
The man who spoke made a throat-slitting gesture.
"..."
"That's Kisuke Urahara."
"Kūgo Ginjō," said Kūgo in a calm tone.
"Snap."
"Snap!"
The lighter, with an exquisite "X" embossed on its surface, was taken out of the pocket of Kūgo Ginjō's jacket. The flame was not easy to light, not because of the cold wind tonight, but simply because the kerosene was almost gone.
"Call!"
He stuffed a cigarette, thicker than a thumb, into his mouth, making a satisfying smacking sound, as if the wisp of smoke, blown away by the wind, was trying to relive the feeling of burning.
But he was alone!